Matrix for typographical machines



Dec. 11, 1923.

H.RrFREUND- Filed 003;. 19. 1921 7 INVENTOR er a i Fez/11d,

| BY g; O

Patented Dec. ll, 1923.

UH TE TTES inane ieflrsn rein.

HERMAN R. FREUND, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO INTERTYPE CORPORA-TION, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

MATRIX FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINES.

Application filed October 19, 1921.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HERMAN R. FREUNI), a citizen of Germany, havingdeclared my intention of becoming a citizen of the United States,residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Matrices for TypographicalMachines, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in character bearingmatrices of the kind used in typographical machines and moreparticularly machines of the linotype class, substantially as shown anddescribed in U. S. Letters Patent No. 436,532, granted September 16,1890, to O. Mergenthaler.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a novel and improvedmatrix adapted for the casting of italic character type or type barstherefrom and which is capable of being handled with facility byordinary typographical machines, the improved matrix in its preferredform being so constructed that it can be used successfully andpractically in typographical machines of the linotype class designedoriginally to use matrices of the kind ordinarily employed in thecasting of roman character type.

Heretofore italic type for characters of relatively small sizes has beenobtained by using the ordinary commercial form of matrix comprising aflat straight rectangular body of uniform thickness, in the edge ofwhich the italic character was impressed. The italic type charactersthus obtained were not truly italic in all instances, owing to thenecessary distortion of certain of the characters to accommodate them tothe limited rectangular character-receiving area of the matrix body,although such matrices could be used to some extent. However, as therange of use of typographical machines increased, demand was made forthe production of italic type characters of the relatively larger sizes,and it was found that the usual fiat rectangular and commercial form ofmatrix could not be employed satistactorily for italic characters of thelarger sizes, because the distortion and defects existing in the smallersize characters would be exaggerated andhence too prominent in thelarger size characters.

Eliort also has been made to produce a matrix having ofi'set portions toform an intermediate area. to receive and conform Serial No. 508,654.

generally with the inclination required by of the requirements arisingfrom the use of such a matrix in typographical machines of the linotypeclass had not been provided for in the matrix as shown and described inthe patent, and I have succeeded in devising a matrix which overcomesthe obstacles and difliculties which presented themselves, and moreover,the improved matrix is capable of use in typographical machines of thelinotype class and of the usual kind designed to use the ordinarycommercial matrices bear ing roman type characters. The improved matrix,furthermore, is capable of accommodating italic type characters in thelarger, as well as in the small sizes, the matrix, according to thepresent invention, being properly shaped to receive the inclined italicstyle character and provided with lugs or cars which are so disposedrelatively to the body of the matrix that they will function properly inthe distribution of the matrices and they will also guide the matricesin passing into and through the magazine in which they are stored.

The present invention also provides novel spacing means for use inconjunction with the improved matrices, whereby a line of matrices ofthe improved form may be filled out and locked by the operation of theusual justifying means of the machine, and it provides filler pieceswhich enable the line of matrices to be carried through the machine andproperly confined between the vise jaws and which also enable a mixedline of italic and roman character matrices to be assembled andjustified properly, preparatory to the casting of a type slug therefrom. i I

To these and other ends, the invention consists in certain improvementsand combinations and arrangements of parts, all as will be hereinaftermore fully described, the features of novelty being pointed outparticularlyin the claims at the endot the specification.

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 represents a composite or-mixedline of italic and roman character matrices jnstified and locked betweenthe vise jaws and in condition for the casting of a type bar or *slugtherefrom Figure 2 is a perspective view of a spacer modified inaccordance with the presentinventi'on to accommodate an italic charactermatrix at one side thereof Figure 3 is a perspective view of a fillerpiece adapted for use in squaring the line at one side of an italiccharacter matrix;

Figure aiis a perspective view of the improved italic character matrixin its preferred form;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a filler piece which is complementalwith the filler piece shown in Figure; 3 and is adapted for use insquaring the line at the opposite side of anitalic, character matrix VFigureG represents a part otjthe upper end of the matrix magazineillustrating diagrammatically the manner in which the improved. italiccharacter matricesare received and guided while passing into and throughthe. magazine in which they "are adapted to be stored; and

Figure 7 represents a cross-section through the casting portion of atypographical machine of the linotype class, illustrating the manner inwhich the line of matrices is presented to the mold.

Similar parts are designated by the same reference characters intheseveral views.

Italic character matrices constructed in accordance with the presentinvention and the adjuncts provided by the present invention foruse-therewithmay be employed in typographical machines of various kinds,

lthough these matrices and their adjuncts are particularly applicablefor use in typographical machines of the linotype class and of theordinary kind designed to employ the usual roman character matrices. Theinvention in its preferred embodiment is show in the accompanyingdrawing and will be hereinafter described in detail but it is to beunderstood that the invention is not restricted to the preciseconstruction shown, as equivalent constructions are contemplated-andthese will be included within the sco e. of the claims. 7 p

In t e present instance, 1 and 2 represent the vise aw of atypographical machine of the linotype class, these vise jaws, as is wellknown, functioning in the usual way to confine the line of matrices incasting position in front of the usual n old 3,;the vise jaws receivingthe lines of matrices from the usual first elevator 4: in the usual way.In machines of this class, the faces of 'th e visejaws against whichtheends. of t'he line abut, fareparallel or substantially so "to fit'evenlyagainst the ends of the line which, when made up of the usual romancharacter i-atricearesi ,t 7,

In the 'cdmpo a or mlxcd line shown in Figure 1, designates italiccharacter italic character matrices to square these.

ends of the line and produce the proper it between them and therespective faces of the vise jaws, filler pieces being provided for eachfont of italic character matrices and being preferably stored in thesame magazine therewith and releasable for delivery therefromundercontrol of the keyboard. The filler pieces E and 'F belonging toeach font are complementalto one another so that they may be used eitherto square the line at any-point in its length adjacent to an italiccharactermatrixeas, for example, is designated by the filler piece E, orthey may be used in pairs to form a spacer or quad between two words,as, for example,

is illustrated by the filler pieces E and-F I A solid or eneepiece quadGr may also be provided "for use as-a spacer between words, this quadbeing also preferably stored in the magazine containing the italiccharacter bearing matrices, this quad or blank matrix being-0t thesameshape as the italic character bearing matrices belonging to the samefont. Asuitable number of wedges-or 6X- pansibie space bands H may bealso provided for use when desired, this space band being similar in itsgeneral constructionto that ordinarily employed in conjunction with theusual roman character matrices, in that it comprises an u pwardlymovable wedge H and a body H? having the usual supporting ears or lugs Hbut the body H is formed with an offset portionli which iscomplement-ail to the side or the italic character matrix against whichit fits. F or example, a space band of this construction maybe usedadvantageously the junction between a group of the ordinary roman.character matrices M and a group of italic character matrices m, as isshown in Figure 1. for the purposes of squaring the italic charactermatrices with the roman character matrices and justifying the linebetween the vise aws,;it being obvious that by this arrangement thewedge member ii of the space band will occupy a position square orperpendicular to the line of matrices and that this space 'band can bepushed upwardly to effect justification, of. the line- 'by the opei'a'tionof the usual j assa ing m chanism of the machine: 'Whe r'eafiller piece, such as the. filler piece is used to square "the line atthe junctid b group of italic character matrices and a Y group-oi": r'o'an charactermatrices the usual eXpansilile apa-e "band H? havingparallel a e may be used to expand and justify the line in the ordinaryway. Where the filler pieces are used in pairs, as is illustrated by thefiller pieces designated E and F the ordinary expansible space band Hwith parallel faces could be used between these filler pieces to expandand justify the line.

Each italic character matrix, according to the present invention,comprises a body composed of upper and lower end portions l 2 and Mwhich are preferably of substantially rectangular form, as viewededgewise, and an intermediate oblique connecting portion M the angle ofthe intermediate oblique portion M corresponding with the inclination ofthe italic type character and providing an area of the correct form toreceive the appropriate italic type character in its edge. Each italiccharacter matrix is also provided with a pair of upper lugs or ears Mand a pair of lower lugs or ears M. These upper and lower lugs or earsare located in vertical alinement, the upper lugs M being preferablylocated immediately adjacent to one of the flat sides oi the matrixbody, but owing to the oiifset relation between the upper and lowerportions ll 2 and M of the matrix body, the lower lugs or ears ii willbe located at points offset inwardly from the fiat side of the lowerportion l 3 and toward the center thereof. This particular arrangementof the lugs or ears M and M is important where, as in the presentinstance, the italic character matrices are to be handled by the samemechanisms of the machine which ordinarily handle the usual romancharacter matrices. For example, in typographical machines of thelinotype class, as is shown generally in the Mergenthaler patent abovereferred to, the distributer which returns the matrices to theirrespective channels in the magazine embodies three parallel screws,which are so related to one another that the forward sides of thethreads of the three screws, are in alinement or in a common planeperpendicular to the axes of the screws, the threads of two of thescrews engaging the upper lugs or ears, while the thread of the thirdscrew engages one of the lower lugs or ears of the matrix and therebyadvance each matrix along the distributer bar until the matrix reachesits respective magazine channel. By locating the lugs or cars M and M inalinement in the same vertical plane, it will be understood that theselugs or ears will be properly engaged by the threads oi the distributerscrews, and hence the matrices will be correctly advanced through thedistributer. Also, the matrix storage magazine as commonly used intypographical machines of the linotype class, are provided with groovesor channels h. 7 in their top and bottom walls, Figure '6 representingthese channels as formed in the lower wall of the usual magazine. Byarranging the lugs or ears l 5 and M in alinement in the same verticalplane, the italic character matrices in entering and passing through theusual magazine adapted for the handling of roman character matrices willbe guided by the lugs or cars M and M in such a way that these matriceswill travel in paths parallel with the upper and lower parallel portionsl 2 and M thereof, and hence they can be accommodated in the magazinewith out liability ot the matrices in one channel catching againstmatrices in an adjacent cl annel.

it will be understood that the italic character bearing matrices andalso the spacer pieces and the quad will be provided with the usualcombination teeth for supporting them while traversing certain. parts ofthe machine and during distribution, as is the case with the ordinaryroman character matrices.

In constructing these italic character matrices for italic characters ofdifferent sizes. it is preferable to locate the tops of the charactersin all cases with respect to an imaginary line 0-0 (Figure 1), this linecorresponding or registering with the'lower wall of the mold cavity 5,which wall is formed by the mold body 6 which, in ma chines of thelinotype class, occupies an invariable or fixed position in the moldwheel or disk 7. the mold cap 8 which forms the upper wall of the moldcavity being commonly adjustable by the use of interchange- 100 ableliners interposed between it and the mold body, in order that the sizeof the mold cavity can be altered to cast type slugs 0t different bodysizes. By using this line as a basis in locating the italic character105 faces of diiterent sizes on the matrices, the correct registrationbetween the matrices and the mold is always insured, notwithstandingvariations in the sizes of the matrix characters and adjustments of themold to cast type slugs of different body sizes.

By constructing the body of the matrix of upper and lower end portionsconnected by an intermediate oblique portion extending at an anglecorresponding with the inclina- 315 tion of italic type characters, anarea is provided on the edge of the matrix which is of the proper shapeand inclination to receive a true impression oi any italic character,

and hence true italic type can be produced 120 of the larger as well asthe smaller sizes, By so locating the oblique character-bearing portionon each matrix that this portion begins at a level corresponding withthe level of the mold body and terminates at a 125 level correspondingwith the height of the matrix character, the inclination of each matrixcharacter, irrespective of the size thereof, is in definite relation tothe constant or invariable edge of the mold and 130

